Cushion attachment



Oct. 14, 1941.

N. wLLoNEY l CUSHION ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l l :inventor 7751/ 977,'{0275 l f f'/ 1 y (111013355 Oct. 14, 1941. N. M. L'oNEY 2,258,780

CUSHION ATTACHMENT Filed Sepb. 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F Ww' f ll Ulli "im IIJ!" "I" /y f/ will. Huh... f5 ""5 i l l v wl/Um mi 'I n 2, mm@ Mmmm@ Weil br Patented Oct. 14, 1941 jr OFFICE CUSHION ATTACHMENT Neil M. Loney, Royal Oak, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware 11 Claims.

This invention relates to the shipment of freight and in its specic embodiment contemplates placing the load in specially constructed containers and locating the containers in the box car, or other conveyance, side by side in successive abutment with the endmost containers abutting the car end walls and the centerrnost containers spaced apart n line withthe usual side door opening. To locate the load against displacement an automatically adjustable shimming arrangement is proposed for use between the containers at the side door opening. The chock structure4 maintains tight abutment between the containers in both ends of the freight car by exerting constant spreading force through the use of a compressed spring which also functions as a buffer or cushion against shock.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows a loaded freight car with the side wall removed; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating one type of cushioned attachment; Figure 3 is an elevation partly in section of a modified form of chock; Figure 4 is a view taken on line aI-li of Figure 3 Figure 5 shows a further modification in section and Figure -6 is a detail View taken on line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings the freight car illustrated includes the end walls I--I and a door 2 for an opening in the car side wall. The loaded containers 3-3 are arranged in two sets extendingrinto oppositeends vof the car from the door opening `with the endmost containers in tight abutment with the opposite end walls I-I and Vall containers of each set in tight abutment with each `other successively. The combined width oi the several containers in relationto the length of the freight vcar is such that a space is left between the centerrnost containers at the door opening and the Vcenterrnost containers areneld in positionby suitable chocks which maintain tight abutment of the several containers. Any number of checking devices may be employed but it is found that satisfactory results are had if four devices are used, one at each of the four corners of the adjoining center-most crates. These maybe easily applied after the load is positioned and before the side wall opening is finally closed'by the door 2.

Each chock may take the form of the structure illustrated in Figure 2 where the numerals 4 and 5 indicate a pair of oppositely disposed pockets preferably welded to the sides of the containers facing each other. One end of a coil spring 6 is seated in pocket 5 and similarly the pocket 4 receives one end of a coil spring I. Bridging the space `between adjacent ends of the `axially aligned springs 6 and 1 is a circular rod or jack screw 8 having itsopposite ends telescopically received within the adjacent end coils of the two springs. At an intermediate point the rod 8 is provided with an enlargement or shouldered portion 9 seating against the innermost coil of the spring 'I while a nut l0 adjustably threaded on the shank oi the rodl B seats the inner end of the spring 6. To reduce friction when the nut-I0 is turned on the shank onl thev rod 8 Va bearing washer II may be` interposed between the nut I0 and spring 6. At diametrically opposite points the nut I0 is provided with a pair of notches I2 for engagement by a suitable tool to facilitate adjustment. As will be'obvious the relative adjustment of the nutl on the rod will increase or decrease compressionl on the'two springs 6 and 'I to enable the application and removal of the assembly and the adjustment rfurthermore enables the parts to accommodate differences in the spaced relation between adjacent centermost containersv as may occur -in use. In use the springs serve to exert a constant spreading force and thereby resist displacement of the load and also `cushion shocks during transit.

In the form illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 thek single coil spring I3 is employed having its ,opposite ends seated in cupped attachment brackets Ill-I4 for connection with end plates I5-I5 forming parts of theI containers. Each bracket I4 has a headed stud I6 projecting laterally therefrom fitted to a keyhole Il in its cooperating plate I5. In use the-force of the spring I3 vis transmitted to the crate through the interconnected bracket I4 and plate I5 by means of the pin'and slot interconnection. The head of the bolt serves'to hold the parts against dislodgment after having been introduced through the enlarged portion of the keyhole I'I and shifted into the reduced portion of the keyhole. As a precaution against accidental disconnection a retractible spring pressed plunger I8 is fitted within a cylinder I9 welded to the top of the bracket I4 and in projected position its tip enters into a receiving hole or socket inthe plate I5. It may be withdrawn against the tension of its spring by means of a cross bar or iinger piece 20 on the outer end of the bolt I8.

A screw stud 2l extends through the assembly of parts and is provided at one end with a head 22 engaging the outer face of one of the attachment brackets I4 and is provided at its opposite end with a screw threaded portion which adjustably engages with a nut 23 bearing on the outer face of the other bracket I4. Preferably the nut 23 is welded against the outer face of its adjacent bracket I4 and the head 22 is provided with tool receiving recesses by which the rod may be rotated. When the chock is to be removed the attachment brackets I4-I4 are drawn together by threading the rod 2| into its nut 23 thereby compressing the spring and causing one or the other of the headed studs I6 to be shifted in its keyhole il for detachment from the plate l5. The parts are held in assembled relation for further use and reversal of the procedure mentioned enables application of the spreader.

Figure shows the containers provided with channel sectioned extensions 24 to receive and locate the hooks 25 of the spring attachment brackets 26 to which are 'fitted the opposite ends of the coil spring 21. Here again a rod 28 extends through the coil spring with one end threadedly engaging a nut 29 associated with one of the brackets 26 and its other end welded or otherwise secured to a head 30 with a thrust bearing 3| interposed between the head and the outer face of the other bracket 25. Rotation of the screw rod 28 will draw the spring seats 25 toward each other for holding the spring in its compressed state and allowing disconnection of the attachment hooks 25 from their container brackets 24. Conversely, unthreading of the rod 28 allows the seats 26-26 to be spread apart in applying the cushion chock and thereafter the force of the spring cushions shocks and maintains the load against shifting.

I claim:

1. InA combination, a box car having a side door opening, two sets of load containers within the car on opposite sides of the opening with the containers of each set arranged in successive abutment, the endmost container being in abutment with the car end wall, the adjacent containers of the two sets being spaced apart in line with the door opening and a shock absorbing spacer directly engaging the said adjacent containers at the door opening and comprising a coil spring, a pair of end cups sleeved on the opposite ends of the spring, pin and slot detachable connections between the cups and containers and means to lock each pin against displacement within its slot.

2. In the loading of containers in the two ends of a box car from a central side door opening with the containers placed against the end walls and against each other successively, means to resist displacement of the loaded containers including a pair of axially aligned spreader springs exerting a spreading force against adjacent containers at the door opening and a spreading jack axially aligned with the springs between their adjacent ends and provided with bearing portions seating the springs at their said adjacent ends andl with locating terminal portions piloted withinthe endmost coils of said springs.

3. The combination with a box car having a side door opening, of two sets of abutting containers positioned in the car ends and spaced apart at the door opening, and cushioning wedge means having opposite ends tted to adjacent containers at said door opening and being arranged to exert a spreading force on the containers, including a coil spring, a cylindrical locating socket sleeved on one end 0f the spring and providing a bearing therefor, a bearing for the other end of the spring comprising a spring thrust receiving member having a spring seat on one face and a nut engaging the opposite face thereof and a threaded bolt telescopically housed within at least certain of the spring coils and threadedly engageable with the nut to shift said bearing members toward each other for compressing the spring.

4. The combination with a pair of shipping containers loaded for transit in spaced relation, of a pair of oppositely disposed spring seats engaging adjacent sides of the containers, a pair of axially aligned coil springs having their outermost ends fitted to said seats and an adjustable spreader engaging the adjacent ends of said springs.

5. The combination with a pair of shipping containers loaded for transit in spaced relation, of a pair of oppositely disposed spring seats engaging adjacent sides of the containers, a pair of axially aligned coil springs having their outermost ends fitted to said seats, a locating member having opposite end portions telescopically fitted to the coils of both springs, a shoulder on said member seating the inner end of one spring and a nut adjustably threaded on said member to seat the inner end of the other spring.

6. The combination with a pair of shipping crate members, of a cushion chock therebetween including a resilient buifer, anchorage members therefor detachably secured to the crate members, the detachable connection between at least one of the crate members and its cooperating anchorage member comprising a headed stud on one of the members, a slotted retainer on the other member to receive said stud and a spring pressed plunger carried by one of the members for projection into an opening in the other member.

7. The combination with a pair of shipping crate members, of a cushion chock therebetween including a resilient butler, anchorage members therefor detachably secured to the crate members, the detachable connection between at least one of the crate members and its cooperating anchorage member comprising internestable thrust transmitting parts on the respective members.

8. The structure of claim '7 together with means to locate said parts against accidental dislodgment.

9. The combination with a pair of shipping crates arranged in spaced relation and provided with channeled sectioned brackets, of a cushion chock comprising a resilient buffer and a pair of attachment brackets therefor, each having a reversely turned hook fitted to an adjacent crate bracket.

10. For use in locating load containers in a freight car, a spreader including a coil spring, a pair of attachment brackets tted to the opposite ends of said spring, container attachment hooks on said brackets and a tensionable turn bolt connection between said brackets.

11. A cushioning chock assembly for use between shipping containers including a central rod having a head at one end, a nut threaded adjustably on the other end of the rod, a pair of spaced anchorage members mounted on opposite ends of the rod for relative movement and bearing on said head and said nut, respectively, means on said members for detachable connection with selected shipping containers and a coil spring surrounding the rod with opposite ends seated on said anchorage members.

NEIL M. LONEY. 

